"No. It will not be repeated. I am assuring the nation as Chief of the Army Staff that 1962 will not be repeated. No way," he said during his first formal interaction with media after taking over on May 31.
The country's borders are "well protected and the Army will not allow the enemy to cross it," he said when asked if India could face the repeat of 1962 when it lost war against China.
"Such an event will not be repeated as the country's forces have got plans in place to protect the territorial integrity of the nation," he said ahead of the 50th anniversary of Sino-India war.
"I am not talking about any country. I am only assuring as Chief of the Army Staff. We have plans in place to safeguard the territorial integrity of our country. That is the assurance I am giving you," he said.
When asked about India's preparedness and if he was satisfied with infrastructure development in the Northeast especially Arunachal Pradesh, he said several projects are going on there... Our preparations are going on well."
At the same time, the Army Chief said, "yeh dil maange more (the heart wants more)". (MORE)